s-CRY-ed Christmas Special

Chapter One

Tack! Tack! Tack!

Slender feminine hands raced over the smooth surface of the keyboard. The lens of her glasses reflected the light from the screen as she hacked into Hold's database only to encounter another firewall. She raced in another password as a new screen popped up. The monitor sizzled white as an angry eye appeared, suddenly the device flicked off. "Eh, another virus.....and another dead end." the young woman stated removing her glasses as she brushed her raven strands from her face. The researcher leant back in her chair and frowned slightly. "Just what are Hold and the mainland up to?" she inquired as her ears twitched to the beep of her alarm clock.

Mimori Kiryu calmly walked to her room to turn off the device as she gazed at her usual wake-up time, 5:45 am. "Good morning, minna-san. It's a beautiful sunny day so get up and start the day. Don't forgot to pick up Christmas presents for that special someone because Christmas is in just four da....click!" the heiress to the Kiryu dynasty turned the machine off and bit her lip as she began her daily toilette.

"Christmas is just in four days and I still haven't gotten any gifts for anyone because of work." she muttered heading to the bathroom as she tugged off her clothing. Her hand rested around the triangle crystal around her neck.

"Special someone.....Ryuho."

!!!

"Konnichiwa! You are now invited to Hold's Christmas Eve Bash!" two cheerful looking woman sang as they handed Mimori a pamphlet and then sashayed towards a man with a long pig tail who was gorging on a watermelon. Mimori took a sip from her glass as she settled into her usual spot in Hold's cafeteria.

"Hold's Christmas Eve Bash, I never knew this place could have so much Christmas cheer." she said surveying the red and green tinsel that was being hung up, "Oh, I'm being paged." the Kiryu girl said as she took her beeper from her pocket. "I'm being summoned to the medical ward?." the raven haired woman observed as she immediately jumped from her seat stuffing the beeper and pamphlet into her pocket and ignoring the man approaching her.

"Ah, Minori-san!" the man cried as he set his tray down onto the table. He gave her an impish grin as she prepared to leave.

"Excuse me Cougar-san, but I have to go." she replied giving a small bow and rushing off. Straight Cougar slouched in his seat as his face took on a sadder demeanour.

"Too slow.....again."

!!!

"But...but we can't just leave him like this.....just because he's a Native Alter!" Mimori cried to her colleagues as they packed up their medical equipment. The eighteen year old crossed her eyes as they ignored the groaning man on the examining table.

"Kiryu-han," said a stern looking woman with thick glasses, "The fate of this man has already been set. You as well as I know that with such wounds he will not survive much longer." she said pulling the sheet up to cover the lower half of his mangled body. "For his foolishness for opposing Holy and society, his life was cut short; all we can do now is, offer him painkillers and morphine. You may treat him if you wish!" she barked as she brushed a grey strand of hair from her face and walked out door the other doctors at her heels.

"Mainlander's just don't get it do they...."

"Kiryu-san's beliefs are too idealistic..."

"To survive here she must learn..."

These were the stinging words the ebony haired girl heard as her associates left the lab in a huff. The crystal that hung from her neck swayed sadly. Mimori sighed as she turned to the injured man with a mild look. "They're......right, ya...know." the researcher jumped as she saw the Inner's torn lips move. "You're beliefs are too idealistic..... Mainlander right?" he asked opening his black eyelid as his green eyes gazed curiously at her.

"Hai. My name is Mimori Kiryu." she introduced as she injected a needle into a tube connecting to his arm. The man flinched but offered a shaky smile for gratitude.

"Mimori-san, is it? Well don't know what my real name is but everyone just call's me Kurim. You're very different....from the others. I suppose Hold isn't composed off heartless bastards after all." he chuckled softly but regretted it as he went into a fit of hacking. The girl rushed to his aid but he shook his head indicating he was fine for the moment. "You're too kind....much too kind. Why are you here, you should go back home, be with your family." he suggested cringing as a spasm of pain swept through his body.

The raven haired teenager raised her eyebrows in surprise as she sat down in the chair beside him. "Why am I still here.....well the major reason is because is I wish to be close to someone." she replied shakily giving him a dubious look as he nodded for her to continue. "The others are because I wish to help and by doing something else so I won't be recognized as my father's daughter. I truly don't think the members of Hold or Holy are evil per say but they have different values and beliefs of how they should conduct society and I respect that even if it contrasts with my own values." she finished getting up from her seat.

"Mimori-san," he began closing his eyes and gritting his teeth, "There are four more days till Christmas right?" he questioned watching her carefully as she bobbed her head. this pathetic slug of a Native Alter ask you a favour?" he inquired slyly watching her reaction. The Kiryu girl's shoulder's flinched as she seemed to have ignored him and went over to the computer panels, quickly typing something in.

The Alter User bit the inside of his cheek and settled his head to rest on the bed in disappointment, slowly shutting his eyes. "This favour you ask, just what is it?" a timid voice asked as the man quickly opened his battered eyes and stared amazingly at the woman. The researcher smiled as she sat down again, "I had to sever the camera links, they will be receiving false imagery feed from five minutes ago." she explained.

The injured man gave her a lopsided grin as he pointed to a cupboard to the right, "Over there is where they confiscated my things. In there is my Christmas present for my daughter, Kairi, she's turning six this year, could you please take it out first?" he requested as Mimori nodded her head and fulfilled the task, taking out a gaudy looking teddy bear with one eye bigger than the other and a tattered red bow around its furry neck. She handed it to the man with a smile, "Ah, thank you, thank you." he replied taking the animal and gently he stroked its fur.

"Do you happen to have any paper, I would you like to right something down for me." he said as the girl nodded her head and took a sheet of parchment from a binder tucked away on a shelf. She clicked a pen waiting for him to talk. A few jumbled words slipped from Kurim's tongue as Mimori wrote down the last document of a dying man. The doctor clicked the pen and placed the utensil down a frown marring her face.

"This...Hitomi, this woman who you are leaving your last testament to.....is she your wife?" she asked cautiously giving him the letter for inspection. The letter hid all of his face except for his beady eyes as he turned to the human with a somewhat wistful expression.

"Someday I would have liked to have had her as my wife." he explained softly lowering his gaze back to the letter. A few moments of silence later the Alter Use nodded his head and gave the parchment and bear to Mimori. "This is my request I would be grateful if you could deliver these items to my daughter and Hitomi so....so...they can have a good Christmas without worryin' to much." he stated finally carefully watching her reaction, "I know it's much to ask but in my state I wouldn't be able to do this myself. I know what you're thinking what an odd and selfish request of me but...

"Hai."

"Eh," Kurim ceased his rambling and stared hard at the Kiryu girl, "You'll do it?" he asked quietly as she determinedly nodded her head. The man smiled despite the ache in his jaw. "You have my deepest thanks, Mimori-san." he said as he soon erupted into a fit of chuckles his eyes turning glossy as he felt it much more difficult to breathe. "If you're having trouble......leaving the city and reaching the wastelands......ask for.....Ishlaah....Beanman.....he lives in the...city, tell him my name and he should know where to drop you off." He advised as his movement grew silent and his chest heaved in painful bursts.

Mimori placed the letter down as she careful watched the man before her, subconsciously hugging the bear close to her breast with one arm.

"Kurim-san, I'll do my best to fulfill your request."

!!!

Five minutes Later

Mimori Kiryu exited the small room as the automatic door closed swiftly behind her hiding the view of a white sheet covering the silent corpse that lay on the examining table. She hefted the bag around her shoulders higher as she walked quickly down the corridor avoiding the many cameras that seemed to be watching her constantly.

"A-ra, isn't that Kiryu-san, she's seems to be in a rush." a cute looking fifteen year old girl observed as she turned to her companion, "Maybe she has a hot date." Scheris Adjani chirped as she viewed her associate's reaction. The man's ruby eyes hardened as he gave a little snort of indignation.

"It isn't any of our concern." Ryuho stated as he turned on his heel and began to walk away. The blue haired girl grinned and skipped after him.

"Ne, ne, Ryuho are you coming to Hold's Christmas Eve party this year?" she asked her cheeks flushing a bit. The green haired Alter User nodded his head not really paying attention since his mind was elsewhere. "Me too, I've almost finished my Christmas shopping, if it wouldn't be too much of an inconvenience perhaps we should go toge...."the female Alter User didn't have a chance to finish her sentence as another member of Holy approached them.

"Ryuho," the very young boy with navy blue hair called out, "Commander Jigmar would like to see you." Elian explained as the emerald haired man nodded his head and stalked off in another direction. Scheris frowned and hunched her shoulders.

"Missed again."

!!!

"Ah, Minori-san!" an exuberant Cougar called out as he the saw the girl zoom past him and head towards the exit of headquarters. "You seem to be in a rush, if you need to go anywhere fast I'm the best person to come to." he recommended latching onto her arm in an affectionate manner.

The researcher balked a bit as she removed her arm from his, and was ready to give him a lecture but thought otherwise as she straightened the bag on her shoulder. Making sure her cargo was alright. "Mimori, desu. , could you accompany me for a moment?" she asked politely.

The Alter User clasped his hands together and rewarded her with a large grin, "Of course!" he shouted grabbing onto her wrist and pulling her outside and away from Hold.

"Anou, here will be fine, thank you." the girl cried as she slipped away from his grip and stopped walking as they crossed the street, parallel to Hold headquarters. "Cougar-san, you've lived here for awhile, correct?" she inquired as he nodded his head opening his mouth to comment but was too late as she continued talking. "Then perhaps you know of a man named Ishlaah the Beanman who lives inside the city?" she questioned.

Straight raised his brow in surprise as he lowered his bright sunglasses over his eyes. The man looked away from her face, "Ishlaah....you said, hmmmm. I believe he and I had a few acquaintances in the past, but why would, you, a respectable researcher of Hold be looking for such a man, hmmmm, Minori-san?" he asked slyly, a Cheshire smile dancing upon his lips.

The raven haired teenager shrugged, "Mimori, desu and no reason I would just like to, well...."she sputtered trying to find a good reason as a cool zephyr wind ruffled her ebony hair.

Cougar grinned and crossed his arms behind his head. "Don't mind, don't mind, I get the hint, If I ask you no questions you'll tell me no lies." he said giving her a trademark smirk as she bobbed her head up and down. "Anyway, last time I heard Ishlaah moved to the Southside of the city in the really decapitated part, just over there!" he pointed out as he extended his arm and directed his finger in a southward position.

Mimori narrowed her eyes and followed his directions, indeed noticing in that area the buildings did look a bit shabby and not as sturdy as the others, she turned back to the red head with white streaks, "Thank you, Cougar-san you have no idea how much this has helped. Well have a pleasant afternoon." she concluded as she began to walk away.

"Ah, Minori-san, if you'd like a ride I would be more than hap...."

"No thank you, I'm alright and it's Mimori, desu. Again have a lovely afternoon Cougar-san." she called as she continued to walk home.

!!!

The woman in the creamy beige trench coat pushed the hat further down on her head so that her face was half covered. It wouldn't look good if she was seen by someone from Hold or Holy as she snuck around in these parts of the city. Mimori sighed as a pack of untidy children ran past and raced towards an abandoned building to play in. It was getting darker and she was no where closer of finding this Ishlaah character even after asking three citizens that lived in the area.

"Perhaps, Cougar-san, gave me the wrong directions and I can't leave the city simply like this unless I'm travelling in Hold's convoys." she muttered as she sank down to sit on the cracked pavement in defeat. "If this luck continues I will be unable to deliver Kurim-san's gifts." she thought wistfully not hearing the soft footsteps approaching her. "Eh," the girl flinched as she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. The researcher whirled her head around and saw a tall man dressed in white robes and dark sunglasses smiling down at her.

"Well young lady," he said helping her up to her feet. "Would you like a bean?" he offered as he took a bag out of his pocket filled with legumes. The raven haired girl's hat fell off as she looked suspiciously at his face and then the bag; slowly she reached for a bean and popped it in her mouth. It was bitter yet pleasing as it began to melt against her tongue. "Well, let's get going and place your hat back on we don't need any more prying eyes." he commanded as she Mimori nodded her head and picked up the accessory and plopped it a skewed on her hair.

!!!

The eighteen year old carefully watched the man sitting on the stool in front of her. Ishlaah had long curly chestnut hair and a long well cut beard, his complexion was much darker than most of the people in the Lost Ground area. "If I may ask how did you find me so quickly?" The Kiryu heiress asked as she placed her hands to rest on her lap.

The brunette grinned, showing off his pearly teeth as the setting sun's light gleamed off his black sunglasses. "A speedy friend of yours told me you would be dropping by sooner or later, Minori-dono, is it?" he replied watching her as she reached towards a bowl filled with many varieties of legumes, seeds and nuts. Her slender fingers picked up a white bean, "Ah, not that one unless you want a nasty stomach ache tomorrow." he explained as she quickly dropped the thing and her hand retreated back to her lap. The Beanman chuckled as he propped his elbows on the small table, "Now what is it that you wish to see me about, I don't suppose a sweet young thing like you is interested in illegal weaponry."

The girl stiffened as her eyes widened in surprise, "Illegal weaponry." she mimicked as she quickly shook her head, "Oh no, I was wondering if there's a way for you to sneak me out of the city and help me to return, today perhaps. And its Mimori, Kiryu Mimori desu." the ebony haired girl breathed as Ishlaah removed his elbows from the table and perked up after hearing her last name.

"Out of the city, well I suppose it wouldn't look good that the heiress to the Kiryu fortune also a worker of Hold would be going to the wastelands, now would it." he laughed twirling a banded finger around his groomed beard. Mimori slowly nodded her head and ate the same bean she tried when she met this white garbed man. "Mimori-dono, with a small fee I can get my men to take you out of the city and to your destination with a safe passage home." he revealed taking off his glasses. "But I'm afraid that the trip can't be made today whatever your business in the wasteland is, it will have to wait till two more days, on Christmas Eve."

"Eh, Christmas Eve, and this date cannot be sped up till today or perhaps tomorrow" she asked. She slowly began to nibble on her lip as she saw Ishlaah shake his head, "I see, well as long as you get me to my destination and back to the city, I accept to your agreements." she agreed as she extended her hand. The Beanman grinned and gripped her hand noticing the smoothness of a woman's skin. "I just hope I make it back in time for the Christmas party." she thought as she retracted her limb.

The blanch garment man placed his sunglasses on his face as he clasped his hands together, the grin on his lips growing, "Now Mimori-dono, let's talk payment and exactly where it is you wish to go."

!!!

"Eighty!"

"Twenty!"

"Kazu-kun."

"Eighty!"

"Kazu-kun."

"Twenty, you jerk."

"Eh, who are you calling a jerk, Kimishima-kun." a brunette with shiny amber eyes snarled as he grabbed a fellow by the collar who was around the same age as himself, completely ignoring the young girl standing in the corner. "Twenty, twenty, that's not enough to cover expenses anymore, especially with that damn holiday coming up Chr...Chrimpo...ehh I'm too mad to even remember it. How can I buy a nice present for Kanami and cover living expenses with only twenty dollars?" Kazuma the Shell bullet growled.

The other man with spiky brown hair smirked as his eyes travelled to the corner of the room as he was lowered to stand on his two feet. "Even saying that Kazuma....you should really be a bit more discrete." Kunihiko Kimishima chuckled as he pointed to the corner where a cute eight year old girl was standing, her cheeks flushed.

The male Alter User balked as he sputtered for something to say in defence. "Ka.....Ka...Kanami, I thought you were at the farm, never knew you returned so early today, hahaha!" he began to laugh uncontrollably, sweat forming on his brows as he silently vowed to sock Kimishima in the gut for this act of travesty. "Well, me and Kimishima have a little business to settle," Kazuma cried as he restrained the human man into a headlock and dragged him towards the open window.

"Ah, Kazu-kun." Kanami called out raising her right arm slightly as the Shell Bullet stopped in his tracks his hold on his friend tightening slightly. "I just wanted to tell you and Kimishima-san that were all invited to," she blushed a bit as she kept her gaze on the floor, " A Christmas party at Kairi-chan's house, her mama's holding it, they'd love if we'd all come." she finished rubbing her foot against the floor.

"Not like we have anything better to do." the sixteen year old brunette huffed as he dragged his benefactor out the window. "Don't wait up Kanami." he stated.

"Ja,....Kanami...chan." Kimishima wheezed as he tried to free himself from the Alter User's grip. The beige haired child silently watched them go as she saw the night stars starting to peak out in the sky. She sadly raised her head as her mind focused clearly onto her friend as a shooting star streaked across the vast sky.

The eight year old closed her eyes and locked her hands together as her face grew determined, "Kairi-chan's, papa still hasn't come home. I'll wish, and hope that he'll come home on Christmas morning so Kairi-chan will smile again." she prayed softly to the heavens unaware that the fate of that man had already been set and fulfilled.

!!!

"Hehh." a tired Mimori sighed as she snuggled deeper into her bed and dropped her head to rest against her pillow. Her light brown eyes stared dully up at the ceiling as her right hand took hold against the crystal that lay against her chest, "What would Ryuho like for Christmas? What would make him laugh and smile again like he did when we were children?" the girl pondered relentlessly as her eyelids grew heavy and her hand slipped from the ornament.

The eighteen year old turned towards the calendar in her room; she was going to have a busy schedule for two days straight, with last minute Christmas shopping tomorrow and her little project in the wastelands. "Perhaps, it would be so much simpler if I asked Cougar-san to bring me outside the city....but I really mustn't the last time we did something like that....," Mimori remembered the red welt on the speed Alter User's cheek. "It would be best if I don't get him involved, it would be better if I did it myself." she concluded turning to rest on her side.

"What would make an excellent Christmas present for him?"

Author's Note: Another story that's been on my mind. Few months go I finished watching the whole s-CRY-ed series and this story clawed away at my conscious. Oh well you guys know the drill read and review, criticism (you know if characters are out of character or not) or down right flattery is greatly appreciated. Bye-bi, the next instalment is coming soon.